US pressure mounts on Brazil ahead of October presidential election

Washington has stepped up its involvement in Brazil’s 2024 presidential race, combining open support for candidate Flávio Bolsonaro with economic measures aimed at rival candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro’s son petitioned the United States to halt new tariffs on Brazil and to refrain from sanctions affecting the Brazilian central‑bank’s PIX instant‑payment system, arguing that existing measures would hurt the country’s economy. The request coincided with a meeting between Bolsonaro’s son and former U.S. President Donald Trump, where accusations were made that Lula’s government shelters drug‑trafficking groups. In response, the U.S. State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, reaffirmed its stance and threatened further tariffs. President Lula denounced the move as direct interference in Brazil’s electoral process, labeling the U.S. secretary an “enemy of Latin America.” Despite the diplomatic clash, Flávio Bolsonaro plans to appear before a U.S. public hearing to discuss the imposed tariffs. The episode follows a series of U.S. actions, including a 50 % import tariff and sanctions targeting Brazilian officials, introduced after Trump’s return to the White House and tied to Brazil’s Supreme Court proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro for an alleged coup attempt.